Manchester United: It's Herrera vs. Pogba for place in Mourinho's midfield
Ander Herrera stated his case for a starting place in Manchester United’s midfield in the EFL Cup. But was it enough to displace Paul Pogba from the team?
Manchester United eventually overcame Northampton Town 3-1 in the EFL Cup on Wednesday. Ander Herrera caught the eye with an impressive performance and goal in the Red Devils’ midfield. But did he impress enough to dislodge Paul Pogba in the United midfield?
Pogba remains one of the biggest letdowns of the season so far after such a high-profile, mega-money move from Juventus. The expectations were unrealistic, probably, but the Frenchman hasn’t even come anywhere close to them, either.
It’s been repeated ad nauseam how Pogba is playing in the wrong position and Mourinho is doing his star a disservice. But the problem remains. Herrera is now another name to throw into the mix. So how does it all play out from here?
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Mourinho has, so far, been intent on playing a 4-2-3-1 formation. He’s been equally as intent on playing Wayne Rooney. Unless those intentions change, then it is Pogba vs. Herrera for the same place in Manchester United’s midfield. They can’t play together in a two-man midfield, it’s one or the other.
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It’s a straight fight and Pogba is going to win every single time. Not because he’s playing better now, but because he’s a better player overall and United have to show faith in him through his struggles. You drop Pogba and you can already see the headlines. You drop Pogba and lose and it will be ten times worse.
A straight fight between the two is a no contest. Herrera can score every time he plays in the EFL Cup, and the FA Cup and Europa League, too, and he still wont dislodge Pogba. But what if Mourinho was to have a change of heart? Maybe tweak the formation? Change the shape of the team? Perhaps even drop Rooney? Steady on, now.
But a formation change, at least, could give Herrera the chance he is looking for. Could Pogba and Herrera play together in a 4-3-3? Barely. It’s not ideal but it could work against lesser teams. United don’t have a good enough defensive midfielder to have Herrera and Pogba abandoning midfield at the same time.
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The top teams would exploit such a setup. The lesser teams in the Premier League not so much. Mourinho, of course, played the two together in the second half against Manchester City, but that game had already taken it’s course.
What Mourinho needs is a player or two that will give Pogba a license to roam. Do the dirty work that he wont. That player is not Herrera. The Spaniard is not particularly disciplined defensively and naturally likes to adventure forward himself.
The midfield is about balance and a Herrera-Pogba combination is not balanced. Maybe a diamond formation could be explored. Three at the back, too,could be an option. Although, Mourinho doesn’t have enough centre-backs that he rates for two spots, never mind for three.
The likelihood is that a 4-3-3 is the only way Herrera will be able to get into the team. Given Pogba and United’s recent form, it might just be worth a punt. To outsiders, anyway. To Mourinho that just hasn’t seemed to be the case so far.
Despite Herrera’s heroics in the cup, it’s likely still Herrera vs. Pogba rather than Herrera and Pogba any time soon.
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